1. Think Kidneys for care homes
Julie Slevin, Programme Development Officer, UK Renal
Registry
4th February 2016

2. What is AKI?
The size and scale of the problem
The programme
Objectives
Guide for care homes
Call for volunteers
Q & A
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Think Kidneys for Care Homes
Think Kidneys for Care Homes

3. Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney injury is a sudden and recent reduction in a person’s kidney
function. It is often referred to as AKI.
Acute kidney injury is identified by blood tests.
Acute kidney injury can be caused by a number of things such as:
Stress on the kidneys due to illness or infection.
Severe dehydration
Side effects of some drugs when you are unwell.
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4. One in five emergency admissions to hospital will have AKI
AKI is 100 times more deadly than MRSA infection
Around 20% of AKI cases are preventable
Cost of AKI to the NHS is between £434m and £620m per annum
65% of AKI starts in the community
AKI is a global challenge – the NHS is the first health system to attempt
to tackle it
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The size and scale of the problem
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

5. Recognition that AKI is an emerging healthcare issue
New technology and better information
Increasing number of people living longer with long term conditions
and therefore at increased risk of AKI
Need for education and improved outcomes for patients
Holistic approach – need to improve prevention, detection,
management and treatment of AKI
Two major drivers - NHS England Patient Safety Alert followed by the
Five Year Forward View
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What prompted Think Kidneys? The drivers
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

6. Spring 2014
Collaboration between NHS England and the UK Renal Registry
Team of 100 experts and interested health professionals –
nephrologists, acute physicians, GPs, pharmacists, nurses etc.
Guides for secondary care, primary care, etc
Campaign for pharmacists
Working with Care Homes
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Think Kidneys programme commences
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

7. Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes
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8. Think Kidneys objectives
Develop and implement tools and interventions for
prevention, detection, treatment and enhanced recovery
Promote effective management of AKI
Provide evidence-based education and training
programmes
Highlight importance of AKI to commissioners, health
care professionals and managers
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes
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9. Large population of people at
risk
Opportunity for prevention
Engagement event led to
development of useful products
Guide and educational
PowerPoint slide set being
developed
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Think Kidneys and Care Homes
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

10. Created for people who
work in care homes
Guide for nurses and care
home managers
Almost ready for testing
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Guide for Care Homes
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

11. “Train the Trainer”
A number of activities to give
an understanding of what acute
kidney injury is, and what can
be done to help prevent it.
Includes tips on hydration
Care Home Support workers can
complete some sections
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Guide for Care Homes
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

12. PowerPoint teaching slides
Educational tool
Includes tips on assessing
residents for signs of AKI
Aimed at all levels of staff
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Guide for Care Homes
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

13. Need volunteers to trial guides
and PowerPoint slides
Feedback will shape the
finished publications
Chance to be an early adopter
Flier contains contact details
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Invitation for Care Homes
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

14. Think Kidneys is the NHS campaign to improve the care of people at risk
of, or with, acute kidney injury
AKI is common 1 in 5 emergency admissions has AKI
around 65% starts in the community
AKI is costly increasing the risk of harm and death
it uses valuable resources
AKI is preventable and treatable in care home settings
• education
• better detection
• early intervention
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Summary
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes

15. Julie Slevin
Think Kidneys
Programmes Support Officer
UK Renal Registry
Julie.Slevin@renalregistry.nhs.uk
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Thank you……….Questions?
www.linkedin.com/company/think-kidneys
www.twitter.com/ThinkKidneys
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www.youtube.com/user/thinkkidneys
www.slideshare.net/ThinkKidneys
www.thinkkidneys.nhs.uk
Acute Kidney Injury and Care Homes